Guna rose to prominence in the mid-19th century when it became a military station for the Gwalior Cavalry. The presiding Hindu deity of Guna is Hanuman, whose temples are located to the east and west of the city. Jain temples in and around Guna are also of some importance.

Guna became a trading centre after the opening of the Guna-Baran Railway line at the end of the 19th century. It is now situated on a major highway between Agra, Uttar Pradesh state (north), and Mumbai (Bombay), Maharashtra state (southwest), that also connects it to Gwalior, Indore, and other cities in Madhya Pradesh. The main industries are cigarette making and bicycle manufacturing, and cotton ginning, oilseed milling, and hand-loom weaving are important. The city has several colleges affiliated with Jiwaji University in Gwalior. Wheat, sorghum (jowar), legumes, corn (maize), and oilseeds are the major crops grown in the surrounding area. Pop. (2001) 137,175; (2011) 180,935.